Michigan Basketball: Could transfer Jose Perez interest Wolverines?

Gardner-Webb’s Jose Perez has entered the transfer portal and the guard could be someone of interest for Michigan basketball.

Jose Perez is a name some hardcore fans will recognize and after entering the transfer portal this week, the former Gardner-Webb guard could be a fit for Michigan basketball.

If the same sounds familiar, you might recognize it from the 2019 NCAA tournament. Perez was on a scrappy Gardner-Webb squad that pushed top-seeded Virginia in the first round the year the Cavaliers went on to win the national championship.

Perez was the high scorer in the game for Gardner-Webb and was 7-of-10 from the field, finishing with 19 points. That was as a freshman. He averaged 15 points per game that season and averaged of 15 a game this past season too, however, after a tough campaign, where Perez struggled to shoot, he announced he was leaving.

His numbers are impressive at first glance. 15.2 ppg, 6.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists. However, he shot just 34 percent from the field and connected on just 25 percent of his 3-point attempts. He was an All-Big South guard as a freshman, but those numbers are worrisome.

Now, he did only suit up in 22 games this season, starting 19, so maybe injury was a factor. The question is, if Perez can regain the form he had during his first season, would he be worth a look by Michigan basketball?

The former recruit out of the Bronx didn’t have any Power-5 interest coming out of high school, but he scored 15 a game and shot 38.1 percent from deep during the 2018-19 season.

Perez also has size at 6-foot-5. He could be a true combo guard for the Wolverines and if he can find his stroke, he might not be a bad fit. But there are a couple of issues.

For starters, he might not even be eligible to play next season. As of now, he wouldn’t, unless he secured some sort of waiver. That could change if the NCAA changes it rules to allow all players a one-time transfer without penalty.

Then any player that transfers would be immediately eligible next season. And while that sounds nice in theory, since Perez isn’t just a graduate transfer, meaning more than a one-year thing, you have to consider his long-term impact.

Essentailly, if he transferred, he could play the next two seasons or have to sit a year to be able to play two. So would that scholarship be better served going to him or a four-star recruit in 2021? Even a three-star?

People want to complain about Jace Howard, but he was ranked much higher than Perez, so in this instance, it doesn’t seem wise. If he could be a one-year rental like Mike Smith and not take a up a scholarship, then Michigan could take a shot.

But since Perez has two years left, unless the Wolverines are really desperate for help, they should just roll with Cole Bajema.